Scores of residents in Kraaifontein and Khayelitsha spent Sunday in the cold as they started queueing outside Sassa offices.
Last week, the Department of Social Development announced Sassa offices, which were closed when the lockdown commenced on 27 March, would be reopening on Monday albeit with a limited number of staff.
People would be able to apply for new social grants and report lost or stolen cards among others.
Residents in Kraaifontein and Khayelitsha started queueing from Sunday evening, carrying mattresses, blankets and pillows as they prepared for a cold night.
Many said they were afraid they would not be assisted if there were too many people.
PREPARED FOR A COLD ONE: People slept outside Sassa offices
Among those who spent the night on the street in Khayelitsha was Nosipho Jikolo, who was not assisted.
“I came at 8pm (on Sunday night) to sleep here so that I can get a better chance of being assisted as I would be in front of the queue,” she says.
“I am here to submit documents from the doctor that confirm my disability and that I am eligible for a grant.
“I was here a month ago and I was turned away. I am hungry and have not eaten anything since last night (Sunday).”
Only 60 people were allowed on the premises at a time.
No social distancing was practised nor were there any officials around to implement it.
Zachariah Mbiyo commented: “It is not possible to do that when the whole of Khayelitsha is here.
“Social workers used to visit us in community halls on different dates, but now they only opened these offices.
“It is not that we are not scared of the virus, but what other choice do we have when social grants are our only form of income?”
SASSA queues in Khayelitsha where people started queuing at 1am. Video: Phando Jikelo/African News Agency(ANA)
Sassa spokesperson Shivani Wahab said those not assisted were given future appointment dates.
In Eoan Lane in Scottsdene, Kraaifontein, residents were left disappointed when they learnt the Sassa office at the community hall would not be opening.
Barend Havenga, 60, told the Daily Voice: “This is the fourth time I have come here after I turned 60 in February, I want to apply for my pension.
“But now we heard there’s notice that the office won’t open because they must first sanitise it.
“No one was even here to apologise to us, after all the trouble we took to get here.”
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A desperate Noniseko Mokitimi, 45, from Wallacedene says she slept on the cold ground.
Her child’s grant was stopped two months ago.
“We have no food in our home,” she said.
Gwen Maurice, 52, who is disabled, was accompanied her blind friend Lisbet Adonis, 52, and said: “Someone came to drop us here this morning, but we have to walk back to Scottsville now.
“We struggle to cross the train line if no one offers to help us.
“Our grants were stopped inexplicably in January and we want to find out why and claim our money back.”